Today, January 27th
CHUCK PALAHNIUK’S NEW MEMOIR-CUM-WRITING-MANUAL IS IN STORES. As contemporary and singular writing talents go, Palahniuk is one I feel I SHOULD know. But his propensity for “articulating physically nauseating ideas”—as one interviewer put it—just isn’t my thing. And every attempt has stalled a few pages in. But “Consider This: Moments in My Writing Life after Which Everything Was Different” has changed that. While not a fan of his “transgressional fiction,” I suspected his wholly original voice held more than a few lessons. What I found was a master class. This “scrapbook of [his] writing life” has him drinking cognac with Nora Ephron, scouring Barcelona’s flea markets with David Sedaris, and sharing real insights, such as, “Pay attention to the ‘textures’ in your characters’ conversations… they’ll help your readers know who said what.”
“If you’re dedicated to becoming an author, nothing I can say here will stop you,” Palahniuk cautions. But this wise and surprisingly sentimental book will certainly inspire you. Click to buy.
IT’S DONNA REED’S BIRTHDAY. To fans of TV’s “Dallas”, Reed (who died in 1986 at age 64) is known as Barbara Bel Geddes’ replacement in the role of Miss Ellie Ewing—though I can’t imagine there’s anyone who hasn’t seen (and fallen in love with) the midwestern beauty in “It’s a Wonderful Life.” It’s such a sentimental classic—and more beloved for it—that many forget just how effective and moving a love story it is. I can’t think of any romantic epiphany on film that’s as real or as moving as Mary and George’s famous “phone scene.” Wonderful, indeed.
BILL BURR HOSTS THE 8TH ANNUAL PATRICE O’NEAL COMEDY BENEFIT. To Burr and many of tonight’s performers, Patrice was more than a comic’s comic, he was a dear friend. Sure, if you were on the receiving end of his signature trash talking, it was an experience you would never forget, says Burr—and the benefit promises its share. But there’s sure to be a lot of love, too, as Judy Gold, Sam Morril, Rich Vos, Roy Wood Jr., and others honor a master.
7:00PM, New York City Center, 131 W. 55th St. Tickets can be found here, with all proceeds donated to the O’Neal family.